The Tallest College Basketball Players

Basketball players are known for being tall, but there have been giants among men who have played college basketball. Players who stood well over seven feet tall and towered over their opponents.

Here is a list of the ten tallest college basketball players in history. Check out the tallest players below and what they did during their careers.

Oliver Rioux (7-Foot-9)

Incoming freshman Oliver Rioux just took the top spot among the tallest players in college basketball history. The newest Florida Gator has gotten media attention since he was a young teenager playing basketball.

Rioux stands at a record-breaking 7 feet 9 inches tall and broke the Guinness record for being the world’s largest teen. Florida fans are eager to see if their newest center will lead them to an NCAA tournament appearance.

Kenny George (7-Foot-7)

From 2006 to 2008, former basketball player Kenny George played center for the  University of North Carolina-Asheville. George was one of the tallest basketball players ever, standing at 7-foot-7.

In 2008, George was selected as the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Kenny’s career was cut short due to a MRSA infection, which led to a partial amputation of his left foot.

Mike Lanier (7-Foot-7)

The late Mike Lanier is another center who was one of the tallest college basketball players. Standing at 7-foot-7, Lanier’s size earned him a scholarship to UCLA. He played in 61 games for the school before his basketball career ended.

Manute Bol (7-Foot-7)

Manute Bol was one of the tallest college basketball players ever and one of the most iconic. The Sudanese helped pave the way for many African players to enter the US and play basketball.

Due to eligibility issues with the NCAA, Bol played Division II basketball for the University of Bridgeport. Bol was later drafted to the Washington Bullets in 1985.

He went on to have a 12-year professional career and played for multiple teams. Manute is most known for his humanitarian work, as he donated much of his salary to charities within Sudan.

Shawn Bradley (7-Foot-6)

Of all the tallest college basketball players, Shawn Bradley was arguably the most successful. At 7-foot-6, Bradley earned a scholarship to Brigham Young University and played there for two seasons.

After those two seasons, Bradley went on to play in the NBA for over ten years. He is most known for his long stint with the Dallas Mavericks and his role in the hit movie Space Jam.

Tacko Fall (7-Foot-6)

One of the most recent tallest college basketball players ever is UCF alumni Tacko Fall. The Senegalese native played for the University of Central Florida from 2015 to 2019.

After helping lead UCF to their first NCAA tournament win in 2019, Fall joined the Boston Celtics Celtics. He played for the organization for two years before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one year.

Fall is now playing in various pro leagues around the world from China, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico.

Mamadou Ndiaye (7-Foot-6)

Mamadou Ndiaye was one of the tallest college basketball players ever who played at the same time as Tacko Fall. The fellow Senegalese native played for UC Irvine from 2013 to 2016 and was the Big West Conference DPOTY in 2013-2014.

In 2016, Ndiaye played against Tacko Fall, and they broke the record for the tallest tip-off in basketball history. After his collegiate career ended, Mamadou went on to play in the Mexican pro league after being waived by Detroit.

John Hollinden (7-Foot-6)

John Hollinden once held the record for the tallest college basketball player during the 1970s. Standing at 7-foot-6, Hollinden earned a scholarship from Oral Roberts University and played two years for the school. 

He later transferred to Indiana State to play his last two years in college. Hollinden’s dreams of playing professionally were cut short after he was paralyzed in a car accident in 1981.

Neil Fingleton (7-Foot-6)

Neil Fingleton was one of the tallest college basketball players ever and the tallest British person during his life. Standing at 7-foot-6, Fingleton earned a scholarship to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He played for the school for two years before transferring to Holy Cross University. After his college career ended, Neil got into film and television and got roles in numerous big productions. 

Neil’s most notable role was in Game of Thrones as Mag the Mighty before he died in 2017.

Charles Nevitt (7-Foot5)

Charles Nevitt was not only one of the tallest college basketball players ever but also the tallest NBA player. His 7-foot-5 frame earned Charles a scholarship to play at North Carolina State University. 

He went on to play for multiple NBA teams during his 9-year professional career. Most notably being part of the 1985 championship team with the Los Angeles Lakers.